Legislation Assigned to the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee (7)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 4/25/2024

HB 0742 NeutralRabies Inoculation - Pets Exempt if Shot Compromises their Health Matt Gurtler
1/29/2018 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2018/02/02 Report Animal Control General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This bill exempts pets from required rabies inoculation if a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that it would compromise an animal's health.  Said exemption remains in place until a licensed veterinarian determines the inoculation would not compromise the animal's health.   
HB 0876 NeutralBuilding Codes - Locals Cannot Prohibit Wood Construction John Corbett
7/1/2018 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/23 Report Code Enforcement
Fire Services General County Government Preemption Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation preempts local governments from prohibiting the use of wood as a construction material so long as such use conforms to all applicable state minimum standard codes and the Georgia State Fire Code.  Several cities, concerned with fire safety, have enacted such ordinances.       
HB 0886 SupportSales Tax Exemptions - Revision of Agricultural Exemption/GATE Program Sam Watson
5/3/2018 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/09 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/2 Report
2018/03/23 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill makes several changes to the GATE program: 1) increases the sales and operations thresholds from $2,500.00 to $5,000.00; 2) includes livestock as an agricultural product; 3) provides additional requirements for applicants who apply and provide IRS Form 1120 or 1120(s); requires the agriculture commissioner to get a taxpayer's valid state tax identification number prior to issuing an exemption certificate; 4) provides for 3 year duration of new exemption certificates for a fee of $150.00 and an annual wallet sized card showing the certificate is in effect for the current year; 5) provides for new procedures for suspension or revocation of the certificate for unlawful use; 6) authorizes DOR and the Department of Agriculture to share confidential tax information for program compliance purposes; and 7) requires the Department of Agriculture to prepare an annual report  for the chairs of House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees. 
HB 0948 OpposeNo Local Restriction on any Sale of Goods Regulated by Federal or State Agencies Rick Jasperse
2/21/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2018/02/23 Report Code Enforcement General County Government Health and Human Services Law Enforcement
Nat. Res. & the Environment Preemption Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

This state preemption, mirrored in SB 418, prohibits local governments from prohibiting or otherwise restricting the retail sale of any goods, products or items regulated by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the GA Dept. of Agriculture, so long as any said sales are in compliance with local zoning.  This effort to prohibit local ordinances impacting a certain national pet store chain has expanded greatly.   ACCG asks that you pay very close attention to this bill and provide Todd Edwards (tedwards@accg.org) feedback on how it may impact any county ordinances regulating the retail sale of animals (pets or livestock), tobacco, alcohol, plants, etc.  

For a list of all goods, products and items regulated by these agencies (thus preempted by local government regulation) please click here.   

ACCG opposes taking away a community's ability to regulate the broad swath of goods, products and items covered by the above three agencies.    

 

HB 0956 NeutralFood Animal Cruelty - Must Consult with Category II Veterinarian before Filing Charges Clay Pirkle
7/1/2018 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
Animal Control General County Government Health and Human Services Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
Among other provisions governing veterinarian practices, this bill requires local law enforcement officers to consult with a licensed and accredited Category II veterinarian employed by a state agency prior to filing animal cruelty charges regarding animal husbandry of food animals.  The veterinarian will confirm whether or not the conduct is in accordance with customary and standard practice.  "Food animal" means any animal that is raised for the production of an edible product intended for human consumption.  Additionally, the bill requires veterinarians to disclose the rabies vaccination history of any animal 24 hours of receipt of a written request by the physician of any person bitten by such animal.   
HR 1473 NeutralStudy Committee on Industrial Hemp Production Tom McCall
3/23/2018 House Passed/Adopted Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
Agriculture General County Government Health and Human Services Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance
This resolution creates a study committee to explore whether the State of Georgia should consider the economic feasibility of developing industrial hemp (an agricultural commodity) and the potential economic benefit to rural parts of Georgia by undertaking industrial hemp production in this state.
SB 0257 NeutralFood Animal Cruelty? Must Consult Dept. of Agriculture before Filing Charges Bill Heath
3/21/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/02 Report 2018/03/23 Report Agriculture Animal Control
Criminal Procedure General County Government Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation requires local law enforcement officers to consult with a Department of Agriculture Category II veterinarian before filing criminal charges related to animal cruelty/husbandry of "food animals" - to confirm whether or not such conduct is in accordance with customary and standard practice.  A food animal is one raised for the production of an edible product intended for consumption by humans.   
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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